Advantages of Total Hip Replacement Surgery

Many people suffer hip pain from arthritis that no longer function well or causes severe pain with even simple daily activities. When evaluating through a careful review of X-ray indicates that hip is extensively worn out. For such situation, total hip surgery is the best option, which offers relief from the pain.

Total hip replacement surgery is very effective and less painful if done with the most advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques and rehabilitation program. There are various advantages a patient can gain due to total hip surgery done through anterior approach technique. Let us see few of them.

• Faster recovery: On the same day of surgery, patients can get up walking full weight bearing on their operative hip shortly after returning from the recovery area. Many fit patients just need a cane to walk about in the hospital and are able to start general activities within a few weeks. While it may take many months for some patients to fully recover following conventional hip replacement surgery, the anterior approach technique enables patients often to recover and return to activities such as golf, tennis, biking and of course distance walking in as short as four weeks.
• Minimally Invasive. The anterior approach to hip replacement surgery is the most minimally invasive choice for people suffering from arthritis, hip pain, and stiffness and limited hip movement. A small 4" incision is created over the anterior-lateral aspect of the hip. No muscle is detached from bone in this approach. In the front of the hip, some muscles are temporarily pushed apart to allow work on the bones of the hip joint but are not injured and completely functional in this approach. Usually this result is far less painful than is typical in other approaches to the hip used by most surgeons and compliments the faster recovery.
• Less Restrictive. After hip replacement surgery, patients must limit flexing of the hip to no more than 60 to 90 degrees that usually results in complications of normal activities like sitting in a chair, on a toilet seat, putting on shoes or getting into a car. Simply climbing stairs may also be more difficult during recovery when following the conventional replacement surgery. These restrictions, simply do not apply after total hip replacement using the anterior approach technique.
Following the total hip surgery through an anterior approach surgical procedure, patients are instructed to use their hip normally without cumbersome restrictions and are sent home from the hospital often in just two days. Patients can immediately bend their hip freely and bear full weight when comfortable, resulting in a rapid return to normal function. Doctors and patients alike are encouraging this procedure because it reduces pain, blood loss, scarring, muscle trauma and the risk of dislocation.
• More Accurate: The use of the latest and specialized X-ray machine known as fluoroscope allows the orthopedic surgeon to see the placement of the component parts of the hip replacement and to make adjustments immediately to give the patient the most accurately placed hip prosthesis and to have the most equal lengths before leaving the operating room.

Thus, we can see that anterior approach to the hip in the total hip replacement surgery is much better compare to others. But, this method is not used by most of the surgeons in America. Only a very few hip surgeons are currently offering this approach to their patients. So, it is better to check with your orthopedic surgeon before undergoing for total hip surgery. Total hip replacement surgery offers benefits that the traditional route to hip replacement just cannot offer.